POLAND Pa. man pleads innocent to many charges

The officer was treated for minor injuries. By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR. VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER POLAND -- A Bessemer, Pa., man accused of fleeing from township police and fighting with an officer in May has pleaded innocent to five charges. Terry J. Hayes, 30, is charged with driving in the wrong lane, having expired license plates, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license, and fleeing and eluding. Hayes faces additional charges in Pennsylvania, including assault on a police officer. He is in Mahoning County Jail on $16,000 a bond. Traffic stop: Township police reports say Hayes was driving north on State Line Road just after 5 p.m. May 19 when an officer noticed the 1993 Ford Taurus he was driving was swerving left of center and did not have proper registration. The officer pulled Hayes over near the BFI Landfill. The officer said Hayes became irate and asked why he had been pulled over. Reports say Hayes yelled an obscenity and pulled away before the officer could finish explaining the reasons for the stop. A chase ensued with Hayes heading for the Pennsylvania state line, the officer said. Police there had already been notified of the situation. Hayes crossed the state line with the township officer still following, reports say, and then stopped again. This time Hayes got out of the Taurus and began moving toward the officer, who also had stopped and got out of his car. The reports say Hayes got out in "an aggressive manner." The officer said Hayes took a swing at him, but he was able to block the blow. The two men eventually ended up entangled on the ground with Hayes kicking at the officer, reports say. Custody: The officer said Hayes continued to fight until he was told "that Mace would be used on him if he did not comply." He was then handcuffed and held until Pennsylvania State Police arrived. Both the officer and Hayes were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Pennsylvania police took Hayes into custody, where he remained until he was brought back to Ohio on Wednesday. Because the fight happened in Pennsylvania, police there will have to file any charges related to the scuffle, said Poland Sgt. Gary Abeid.